The Hollow Boys
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5,0 • 1 valoración
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- 4,99 €
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- 4,99 €
Descripción editorial
THE DREAM RIDER SAGA, BOOK 1
WINNER OF THE 2023 AURORA AWARD FOR BEST YA NOVEL
WINNER OF THE 2023 JURIED IAP AWARD FOR BEST YA NOVEL
Vanishing street kids. An ancient evil. The end of the world.
Our only hope? A hero who can't leave home.
At seventeen, Will Dreycott is a superhero…in his dreams. And in yours.
Eight years ago, Will's parents, shady dealers in ancient artifacts, disappeared on a jungle expedition. Will, the sole survivor, returned home with no memory of what happened, bringing a gift…and a curse.
The gift? Will can walk in our dreams. At night in Dream, Will hunts for criminals—and his parents. During the day, his Dream Rider comic, about a superhero no one knows is real, has made Will rich.
The curse? Severe agoraphobia. Will can't go outside. So he makes his home a skyscraper with everything he needs in life—everything but the freedom to walk the streets of his city.
Case, an orphan Will's age, survives on those streets with her younger brother, Fader. Survives because she too has a gift. She hears voices warning her of danger. And Fader? Well, he fades.
When street kids start vanishing, the Dream Rider joins the hunt. Will's search becomes personal when Case breaks into his tower to escape her own abduction. Fader isn't so lucky.
As Will and Case search for Fader and the missing kids, an unlikely romance grows between the boy with everything and the girl with nothing except the freedom Will longs for.
But as they push deeper into the mystery, they confront an ancient power feeding on these forgotten kids to restore itself. And once restored, no one in the world will be safe.
To defeat this creature, Will must do the impossible.
Go outside.
Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from "one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction" (Library Journal).
"This arresting series kickoff grips from the start. … Vigorously imaginative. ... Takeaway: Thrilling YA fantasy." —BookLife (Editor's Pick)
"An assured, confident novel with strong world-building, sharp dialogue and the perfect balance between action and emotional growth for its main characters. ... a must-read story for YA fantasy fans." —Blueink Review (★ Starred review)
"Inventive, engaging, and boundless fun." —The Ottawa Review of Books
"A fun supernatural tale with well-developed characters and a touch of romance." —Kirkus Reviews
"The man is Sturgeon good. Zelazny good. I don't give those up easy." —Spider Robinson, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner
"A great storyteller with a gifted and individual voice." —Charles de Lint, World Fantasy Award winner
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
After his ancient-artifact-dealer parents suddenly disappeared while the family was on a jungle expedition eight years ago, then-nine-year-old Will Dreycott, who is half Japanese and assumed half white, returned home alone with no memory of how they went missing. Now 17, an agoraphobic billionaire, and the creator of the Dream Rider graphic novel series, Will hides one big secret: the world from his novels is real, and when Will sleeps, he becomes the comics' eponymous superhero protagonist and spends his nights gathering clues to crimes that he then passes on to journalist Harry. When teen boys start vanishing around town, Harry recruits Dream Rider along with Case, a Black teenager with the ability to hear voices warning of danger, who's searching for her younger brother, Fader. Smith imbues this series opener with otherworldly intrigue, developing an elaborately layered plot via bouncy prose that capably shifts between the dream realm, with its monstrous inhabitants, and Will's insular life. Depictions of close-knit relationships shine brightest throughout the novel, especially the familial bonds between Will and his parents and between Case and Fader, as well as the protagonists' budding romance. Ages 12–up. (Self-published)
Reseñas de clientes
Captivating and Exciting!
Captivating and exciting! What a riveting story! Original plot, a fascinating storyline, fast paced and easy to read, the words just flew by, with one exciting adventure after another. The story is full of trepidation and excitement, a need to overcome flaws, loneliness, to fill the hollowed soul with meaning.
It has Smith’s unmistakable unique touch, that reaches deep within, pulling at our hearts’ strings; because, who doesn’t love a flawed personage turned into a hero by night? The comic tropes take a new meaning here, in the persona of a teen allegedly orphan, with an economical freedom, living in his Ivory Tower because of a terrible curse, severe Agoraphobia. And a gift that allows him to roam the dreams of people at night, and as such is called The Dream Rider. Entering the Dream, he follows other people’s dreams and solves crimes. Enter the missing kids living in the streets, including Case and her brother, each with their own Gifts. Together with his endearing sidekicks, in real life and in Dream is Nyx, let’s say “secretary”, fun and snarky, whom I adore! She adds a touch of humour with her witty dialogue to an otherwise grim reality, sad and cruel. There is an added surrealism in the Dream realm that makes reality more pronounced. The evilness of the villains-especially one in particular-, is highly enhanced, Evil of all Evils.
I’m not much of a romance fan, but I don’t mind it running in the background, and being our special and unique protagonists teens it’s inevitable, with the speed the romance blossomed between them. Still, I would have let the friendship grow more, given more importance to the story per se, and make the romantic desires flourish in book-2, for example. There is a lot of humour between Will and Case that I loved. Not complaining though.
This new series is an exceptional YA Urban Fantasy, innovative and creative, so characteristic of Douglas Smith’s writing style.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this premise! It was a tremendous read, from beginning to end. I’m looking forward to reading The Crystal Key #2. I highly recommend this series.